Page 4 | To think that this mother is disturbed and needs help?

IrisAtwood · 2020-12-04T08:26:03+00:00

A woman laid chicken bones and ketchup out with an Elf on the Shelf hat so that it looked like a Grinch toy had eaten him. Her five year old was distraught and is now frightened of the Grinch. She thought it was funny. [[https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/03/mums-grinchy-elf-on-the-shelf-prank-goes-wrong-and-leaves-son-in-tears-13696898/]]

Mrgrinch · 04/12/2020 10:06

I've never done the elf thing myself, but I've never had any particular hatred towards anyone that does. I thought it was just a bit of Christmas fun.

I've now realised just how deranged some of these people are. It's absolutely ridiculous the extent some of them will go to, and this is a prime example of that. Sometimes I really think that these people only have children to use on social media.

Passmeabottlemrjones · 04/12/2020 10:09

I am a pretty laid back parent and I try not to molly coddle my kids, but I hate the idea of 'pranking' your kids, especially when you are doing it on camera to get likes. Most of the pranks aren't funny anyway and some of them really upset the kids. I just think its a shitty thing for an adult to do to a child who is not on the same level of understanding as them.

Jumpingjosephene21 · 04/12/2020 10:11

@sadie9 but if your child likes the idea of a friendly elf moving around in their house for a month before Christmas where is the harm in it? If they found it upsetting or disturbing then I'd see your point and obviously wouldn't do it. Maybe some kids do. But come on, it's a bit daft to say that is gaslighting 🙈

Doggybiccys · 04/12/2020 10:14

She claims she knows her son better than anyone, gave birth to him etc - well perhaps she should have anticipated what his initial reaction would be! I don’t do elf on the shelf but see lots of it on SM - brilliant joke for adults, especially those pissed off with the elf, but not for young DC.

pastandpresent · 04/12/2020 10:20

Wow, very distasteful. I can't even imagine doing that to a preteen dc. I don't find it funny, even though I love horror/splatter films.

Bettysnow · 04/12/2020 10:20

The bottom line is she deliberately set out knowing full well this stunt would cause her small child distress and suffering! Shame on her nasty woman!

Soubriquet · 04/12/2020 10:23

It would have been funny if the kid tho if they it was funny

But he didn’t. In fact he was extremely upset by it and that’s where I think she went wrong

butterpuffed · 04/12/2020 10:28

- the whole concept of a damn elf moving from place to place scares the shit out of me -

I intended to say that it's okay for an adult but not a five year old but perhaps only some adults then !!

Whoateallthestuffingballs · 04/12/2020 10:34

I knew this thread was going to be about this Elf on the Shelf incident before I even opened it!

WhoWants2Know · 04/12/2020 10:35

I saw a very similar meme yesterday of chicken bones arranged on a plate with an elf hat. I laughed. But it was a joke aimed at other adults who are fed up with the elf on a shelf.

Doing it to your own kid is a whole different thing. And then telling people so that you end up in the paper? Wtf?

scrappydappydoooooo · 04/12/2020 10:36

I have a friend who does Elf on the Shelf with her teenage sons. They all take turns playing jokes with him, making the elf do slightly malevolent/annoying stuff and something like this would take that up a notch but be pretty funny to them. But absolutely no way in hell would I do it with my 8yo who still fully believes in Santa/elves/etc. And I'm someone who is always teasing my poor kid and playing silly jokes on him but only in a fun age appropriate manner.

rainkeepsfallingdown · 04/12/2020 11:10

It's the sort thing my mum would have done, had it been a thing when I was younger, but not at 5. It's the sort of joke that's only funny if you're old enough to know it's a joke - so only once you're past the age of believing in Santa.

Geekster1963 · 04/12/2020 11:13

It would be funny for adults but not for a five year old child. If it had been me at that age I’d have had nightmares after seeing that. My MIL bought us an elf on the shelf about three years ago when DD was 5. I never used it as couldn’t be arsed quite frankly. DD is now 8 and came home from school saying ‘everyone has got these elves, but their Mum’s move them around don’t they’? So I don’t feel guilty for never doing it.

Purplehatsandflowers · 04/12/2020 11:13

@Passmeabottlemrjones

I am a pretty laid back parent and I try not to molly coddle my kids, but I hate the idea of 'pranking' your kids, especially when you are doing it on camera to get likes. Most of the pranks aren't funny anyway and some of them really upset the kids. I just think its a shitty thing for an adult to do to a child who is not on the same level of understanding as them.

one of my DCs is obsessed with a youtube star. her parents prank her for likes all the time and have made a fortune out of it. I think they are despicable. One prank they did is told her they were getting divorced and filmed her absolutely devastated reaction and her tears. They apparently thought that was funne. The kid is about 11 I think.

They also filmed her christmas gifts last year- literally thousands of pounds worth of stuff - iphones and the like. I just thought how disgusting, because there will be loads of kids whose parents are divorcing and whose parents could not afford to get them alot for christmas. It seemed - hideous.

AlternativePerspective · 04/12/2020 11:17

I’ve said this on another thread but elf on the shelf is creepy as fuck.In fact it’s as if Santa has recruited Chucky. And now this just confirms that I was right....

MailMay · 04/12/2020 11:21

I can't even imagine doing that to a preteen dc.

If a preteen got upset about this (10-11-12), I'd be more worried about the child. At that age, they should know it's not real.

TheDowagerDuchess · 04/12/2020 11:21

Surely she just misjudged the situation?

God knows why she then went on to post it on social media though!

Ponoka7 · 04/12/2020 11:23

"He’s my child at the end of the day and if I think he can cope with it, then I’ll do it. He can cope with it. I gave birth to my child so I know my child."

I've never known a positive outcome from Parents who make those kind of statements. Their children usually get out as soon as they can and don't look back, if they aren't too damaged to break away, that is.

MoonElk · 04/12/2020 11:24

Kid will likely laugh about it when he's older surely, I remember being scared by my uncle and granddad as a kid (catching spiders to take out of my bedroom as I'm an arachnophobe, then chasing me and pretending to launch it at me etc etc), and yeah I would get upset, but as an adult they are fond memories that we all laugh about together.

wishywashywoowoo70 · 04/12/2020 11:27

I thought it was funny and showed my 8 year old who also thought it was funny but she did feel sorry for the 5 year old

Blueuggboots · 04/12/2020 11:28

I agree with @gamerchick and others that the whole elf in the shelf thing is disturbed.

I refuse to even contemplate it.

jessstan1 · 04/12/2020 11:31

@gamerchick

Personally I think the whole elf on the shelf thing is disturbed.

So do I, big time.

However this woman's actions were quite revolting and why she had to publicise it, I'll never know. I presume she was paid something by the Metro and I hope her five year old never believed in either elves or grinches.

Yeuch.

lemonsquashie · 04/12/2020 11:32

Why call up the paper though?

Fake news

CheetasOnFajitas · 04/12/2020 11:36

My son is quite a mature and emotionally robust 4 and is afraid of most baddies in films and books. He would not be keen in the Grinch full stop, never mind it eating the elf. I am fairly laid back and like a bit of fun but this was seriously misjudged and her defensive reaction shows she is none too bright. No doubt the kid will be playing grand theft auto next year. Awful.

midnightstar66 · 04/12/2020 11:38

I saw this being done and laughed, one of the funniest I've seen 😆 (didn't see the bit about a traumatised child though). Guess it comes down to know you child though. Mine would think it hilarious too.